Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 98: Chapter 98

ASHTON

I can’t believe father. What sick joke is he trying to play with us right now? He really invited his bastard son to our mansion? How dare him bring Josh in here to have lunch with our mother?

Father ignores our death stares and waves Josh in.

"Barbara, you remember Josh, right? He works with us at the HQ."

"Yes. Hello Josh." Mom beams at Josh as he edges closer. "Who can forget this hardworking young man? Josh Randall, right?"

"Yes ma’am."

"Hi Mr. Randall. Nice of you to join us." Demi utters with a smile.

"Thank you, Demi."

"I think I met your mother at the last AGM. Kristy Randall." Mother adds.

Beside her, father almost chokes. Good for him. He wants to play dirty? Four can play that game. I give my brothers just one look and we all return to our seats. I’ll handle this.

Josh offers mom an expensive bottle of wine as a token of appreciation for being invited to eat with us. Oliver’s replacement, a new face in a clean-cut suit, accepts the drink and disappears into the kitchen. Josh slips into his chair and nods at father.

"I’ve met Kristy too. She came by my office to buy a car a while back."

"Really?"

"Yes mom." I exchange looks with Josh and father. "She had A LOT to say to me about my looks and how she doesn’t think they match up with father’s looks in his hay days."

Josh laughs. "My mom likes to make small talk every chance she gets. Where there isn’t anything to be discussed, she has a penchant for making things up." He places his napkin on his thigh and steals a glance at father who is busy watching me.

"I met Kristy at the AGM too. I recall the long, nasty red nails." Asher quips with a sly smile. "In fact, father recently demanded something of me. He requested I go over and have lunch with..."

"BOYS, SHALL I HAVE A WORD?" Father asks, leaping to his feet. He leans down to press a kiss to mother’s forehead. "We’ll be brief, darling. Do keep Josh company in the meantime. Josh, consider this your second home and help yourself with anything you like. I’ll just be back."

I drop my cutlery with a loud clatter, glare at father before joining my brothers to his study. Inside, father shuts the door so no sound can escape.

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BRING HIM HERE!" I begin impatiently. "How could you think to disrespect our mother like that? Do we look like a joke to you? It’s bad enough that you cheated on her with Josh’s mom and even sired a son. You know how much that would crush her and yet you bring Josh in here for what? How do you think she will feel when she finds out the entire truth eventually and remembers this day?"

"The least you should have done is keep the product of your disgraceful act as far away from my mother as possible." Ashal blurts out with red rimmed eyes. "Don’t delude yourself by thinking we can ever accept Josh as part of our family. We will never hold hands around a fire and sing kumbaya, you get it?"

Father sinks into his chair and regards us with a hand under his chin.

"What are you going to do next? Invite that cheap whore who birthed your son to share a meal with our mother too?"

"Watch your mouth, Asher. This is all thanks to you. If you had done as I had asked and had a simple lunch with Josh and his mother instead of insulting them badly, I would have had the heart to turn down Josh’s request to have lunch with us like this."

"Are you kidding me?" I lash at him. "That’s your grand excuse for breaking your promise to us by bringing Josh in here?" I slam my hands on his desk. "You have two minutes to make him leave or I will personally reveal what a cheating, lying scumbag you are to mother!" My heated glare cuts through father’s defensiveness and I watch his shoulders sag.

"You wouldn’t dare, Ashton."

I scoff at him. "Mom’s going to find out anyway, right? How about today? How about now?" I turn and head for the door. "LET’S ALL BE MAD TOGETHER."

"ASHTON! GET BACK HERE. YOU THREE, GET YOUR BROTHER!"

But nobody moves to stop me. Father rushes out of his chair as I yank the door open and head for the dining area. With father and my brothers on my tail, I circle the table to go stand next to Josh who is smiling gaily as mother regales him and Demi with a few stories. They’ve barely touched their meals. The trio look up as the table is surrounded.

"Something wrong?" Mom asks, looking around.

my head. "Are you going to ask him to leave or do I

leave?" Demi repeats, standing nervously. "What’s going on, Ashton? Who wants Josh

out of it, Demi, please." I tell her as politely as I can

yells at her. Surprisingly, she

Father looks defeated as he glances at Josh

we get to meet again. I’d love to hear more stories about the

his chair so he can leave unfettered. "Good bye, Randall. Don’t ever stop

sorry about my sons. I have no idea why they’re behaving like this. I deeply apologize for

nods his head at her before turning to give Demi a peck on her cheek. She also apologizes to him. After he leaves, she glares at my brothers and I. Father angrily abandons

to embarrass that young man like that? What has he ever done to you? Asher, is this about the office rivalry between you two? How could you act

about work, mom." He tells her

acting so mannerlessly? You all aren’t twelve anymore and filled with childish mischief. How can you possibly defend yourselves right now?" Mom is very pissed off. We didn’t think

and kind gentleman he claims to be. Have you forgotten so soon

behave around

crosses to take mom’s hand. "We are not animals, mom. If we can’t stand that man, trust that it’s because he is a very bad person. He didn’t just lie

"What?"

you wouldn’t get worried. Josh had stabbed his arm with a shard

grabs my hands. "Is that true? Where is it? Where did you get hurt? Why would you hide such a thing from

fine now. Do you understand why we loathe Josh now? He pretends to be a saint in front of people he hopes to

"Don’t say that."

invites that man back into this house or we’ll do worse than throw him out. We’ll make sure he is rushed to the hospital from here, like I was rushed from

kisses my cheeks and goes around

sorry I misunderstood you. I

hair. Hooking an arm over her shoulder, he escorts her to her room. The rest of us are left with just Demi who is still reeling in

know Josh hurt you so

guilty?" Asher interrupts, edging close to her. "Did you have something to do with Josh being here?" He narrows his eyes at her. The rest of us also turn to Demi. Asher had mentioned that Demi might have overheard him talking to Josh in his office and deduced that Josh is father’s son too. If

even know Josh was coming until he walked through that door. How exactly am I supposed to invite someone to have lunch with our family when I don’t own the mansion? I can’t even invite Anna unless mother approves it." She shoves her seat back and tries to walk out but Ashley blocks her path. What is he

is bad news, Demi. Stay away from him at work

to be, father would probably not be fond of him. I’m sorry but I won’t refuse his friendship or give him the cold shoulder simply because you all hate him. Whatever issue you’ve got with him stays between you all. Don’t drag me into it." With that, she walks to the elevator

minutes later, my brothers and I are in game room. Ashley is

broke up." He blurts out. We all wait a beat for the information to

"What?" We all gasp.

you do that? That woman is bad

do that? He literally gave me hell over my feelings for Demi and kept chanting about wanting a

with her. While everyone cautions and chides him over his poor decision to keep Nicci in his life,

words. While Asher grits his teeth and Ashal keeps a straight face, my mind reels back to the time when Demi threw up on father. Is she

relieved but instead, I felt a bit sad. I didn’t realize I was

with such a woman. Ashal, can you talk to him? I am done trying to convince him not to ruin his life because of

Demi." Something drifts in his eyes. "You have to divorce her after the contract ends. Having a baby doesn’t guarantee the love of your partner. Where the love is unrequited, you two just becomes bitter parents to an innocent child. Think about our childhood. Don’t you want your child to grow up in a loving family with two parents that

Ashley asks me directly. "Should I keep trying to win Demi

He’s baiting me.

Shay. I wonder what plans she’ll come up with next to keep you tied

Ashley’s eyes darken.

confused man, Ashley. One the one hand, you are trying to start a family too early with a woman you just got to give you a chance at love. On the other, you’re still sleeping with your ex who, might I add,

The love in your relationship is also unrequited and if Mila ever wants a baby, you’ll give it to her just to douse any suspicions about your loyalty. Ashal, you’re very much in the same boat as me. Asher, you’ll never marry for

says anything in

"Like I told father and mother, every decision to be made regarding my marriage with Demi, whether we remain together or divorce, have babies or not, will be made exclusively by Demi and I. I don’t appreciate anyone dumping their opinions about that particular matter on

who still has stones to

***

handle some private matters. Ashal notices my exit and comes rushing after me.

I am not telling them anything, okay? You have my word. I just want to get to the bottom of you know what so I can nip